Hannover 96's Hiroshi Kiyotake will be out of action until the New Year, the club have announced.
Kiyotake has been away with his country, Japan, during the international break, and suffered a hairline fracture in his foot during training that will keep him out for the rest of the calendar year.
The 26-year-old playmaker will not undergo surgery on the problem, but will remain in his homeland for treatment on the injury that he picked up in the team's final training session ahead of a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier with Cambodia.
Huge miss for his club
With four assists and three goals from his nine games in the Bundesliga this season, there is no doubt that Kiyotake's time out will be felt significantly by Hannover.
Speaking to the club's official website, manager Michael Frontzeck acknowledged this, saying that the injury is "bitter" for both the player and the team, but that they "will have to cope with his absence".
The blow is especially big because he has been "in great form," Frontzeck continued, and because he is "a key player" for the side.
Hannover already struggling
Things aren't going well for Hannover at the moment either and this injury will not help them in the slightest.
They currently sit just one place and one point above the relegation play-off spot after 12 games, with a return of just 11 points, and their return to action this weekend will be a tough one too as they prepare to face Borussia Mönchengladbach on the road.
Their upcoming opponents had won six on the bounce in the league until Ingolstadt held them to a goalless draw before the break, and remain undefeated in the competition under André Schubert too.
It's a different story for Hannover though who have won just one of their last four in all competitions and will now be without Kiyotake for the final five fixtures before the winter break.